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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Is Panetta the Right Man for the Top Job at the CIA?

    Leon Panetta is an eight-term former congressman and White House Chief of Staff for Bill Clinton with no hands on experience in gathering intelligence. His appointment to head Barack Obama's CIA comes as a surprise. If he can be confirmed, he would provide a clean break with Bush Administration policies.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Leon Panetta is an eight-term former congressman and White House Chief of Staff for Bill Clinton with no hands on experience in gathering intelligence. His appointment to head Barack Obama's CIA comes as a surprise. If he can be confirmed, he would provide a clean break with Bush Administration policies. California Democrat Diane Feinstein, who will chair Senate Intelligence Committee on the next CIA Director, says she wasn't informed that Panetta had been chosen and will look hard at his experience and qualifications. Greg Miller is national security correspondent for the Los Angeles Times.

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Can Barack Obama Save a Failing Economy?
    1. 1:29Burris Distracts Senate's Attention on Opening Day of the 111th Congress
    2. 7:34Obama Pushes Stimulation, but How Much and How Soon?
    3. 43:44Is Panetta the Right Man for the Top Job at the CIA?You’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      Karen Radziner

      Managing Producer, To the Point & Which Way LA?

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Greg Miller

      Washington Post

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Can Barack Obama Save a Failing Economy?
    1. 1:29Burris Distracts Senate's Attention on Opening Day of the 111th Congress
    2. 7:34Obama Pushes Stimulation, but How Much and How Soon?
    3. 43:44Is Panetta the Right Man for the Top Job at the CIA?You’re reading this
    Back to To the Point